# RO: This is totally going to kill Bring Your Clock to School Day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 16, 2015, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454 "2015-09-16T08:35:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/201 "2015-09-17T21:09:51Z")
Did anything happen to that prick cop who said “That’s the one I though it was” (or something close to that)? If that isn’t indicative of a bigoted mentality that has no business with a badge, I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/202 "2015-09-17T22:47:16Z")
Not surprisingly, some of the IMDb board’s mouthbreathers are coming out against the student. Head over the their Politics board if you want a good laugh. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/203 "2015-09-17T23:32:40Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > While I support Ahmed, and wish him well, and think that what happened to him really sucked, I also think that the adulation that is being heaped on him is a bit over the top and kind of embarrassing for our side. > > He’s not a great hero, or some electronic genius, he’s a bright kid who soldered a few bits together and got mistreated by a bunch of bigots for an afternoon. He deserves an apology from the administration, a reversal of his suspension, and possibly a minor legal settlement, not a trip to the white house, Space camp, MIT tuition and a year supply of rice-a-roni or what ever other wonderful prizes are found behind door number 2. At this point he is pretty much being used by all those groups who want to appear to be “doing something” about the cause of the moment. Its not really that different from the $840,000 that was raised by homophobic pizza, with the exception that Ahmed seems like a nice kid and isn’t actually asking for the shower of gifts. > The problem with this is that all the attention a resources go to one lucky person rather than spread out among the general need. It reminds me of the [Red Cross after 9/11](http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/11/06/rec.charity.hearing/index.html). They recieved more donations than they could possibly spend on the 9/11 victims but when they tried to shuffle some of the money to other causes that actually needed it they got smacked down hard. Far better to give to a Muslim anti-defimation league than to send Ahmed to MIT which he may or may not even what to go to. It seems to me that the embarrassment is just perceived by you. Yes, it’s tragic that they couldn’t spend money helping others. What does that have to do with this? Do you suspect that people aren’t being allowed to give money to the organizations you mention and are forced to give it to Ahmed? The rest of your post just seems to be the common fallacy of “how dare you care about X when Y is more important?” but changed to money instead of caring. There’s nothing to indicate these people are giving to Ahmed in lieu of these other organizations. And I don’t see any evidence that the President or Space Camp or these various organizations saving him a seat if he happens to come are really spending all that much money. They’re making a statement. As for MIT, he just been offered a tour–again, not much money. And it’s also an advertising expense. Sure, everyone knows about Space Camp. But did you know about all these hacker’s conferences? Now people like Ahmed know they exist. What I think is embarrassing are the liberals that have to go looking for reasons that what’s happening is wrong. It’s no better than when the bigot I mentioned earlier did it. ---
**Author:** ![Lubricious\_Integument](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/82dd89/32.png) [@Lubricious\_Integument](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lubricious_Integument)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/204 "2015-09-17T23:49:19Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > While I support Ahmed, and wish him well, and think that what happened to him really sucked, I also think that the adulation that is being heaped on him is a bit over the top and kind of embarrassing for our side. > > He’s not a great hero, or some electronic genius, he’s a bright kid who soldered a few bits together and got mistreated by a bunch of bigots for an afternoon. He deserves an apology from the administration, a reversal of his suspension, and possibly a minor legal settlement, not a trip to the white house, Space camp, MIT tuition and a year supply of rice-a-roni or what ever other wonderful prizes are found behind door number 2. At this point he is pretty much being used by all those groups who want to appear to be “doing something” about the cause of the moment. Its not really that different from the $840,000 that was raised by homophobic pizza, with the exception that Ahmed seems like a nice kid and isn’t actually asking for the shower of gifts. > The problem with this is that all the attention a resources go to one lucky person rather than spread out among the general need. It reminds me of the [Red Cross after 9/11](http://edition.cnn.com/2001/US/11/06/rec.charity.hearing/index.html). They recieved more donations than they could possibly spend on the 9/11 victims but when they tried to shuffle some of the money to other causes that actually needed it they got smacked down hard. Far better to give to a Muslim anti-defimation league than to send Ahmed to MIT which he may or may not even what to go to. The thing is that Ahmed is now at the center of a huge situation that is not in his control and was not created by him. The English teacher may have reacted stupidly, but is probably subject to zero tolerance “report anything unusual”. The stupid people in this situation are the administrators and the police. Since he is at the center of a (now viral) situation there is bound to be reaction from major players. The White House, Google, Facebook, et. al are using this situation (and using Ahmed) to highlight the ridiculous discrimination going on. He is not being hailed as a hero, being offered jobs at Google or Facebook, or being given admission to MIT. The ticket to space camp was just a nice gesture. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/205 "2015-09-18T00:11:31Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > The problem with this is that all the attention a resources go to one lucky person rather than spread out among the general need. Just want to point out that as far as President Obama and the invitation to the White House are concerned, this is definitely not just about one lucky person. The President invited Ahmed to [White House Astronomy Night](https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/08/21/white-house-astronomy-night-celebration-science-technology-and-space), which has been held every year of his presidency. He has also held the [White House Science Fair](https://www.whitehouse.gov/science-fair) for the past five years. Yes, Ahmed is getting attention for going viral, but this president has made a serious effort to support young scientists that goes beyond one internet celebrity. I’m pretty sure MIT and Space Camp also do plenty for young scientists who aren’t in the spotlight. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/206 "2015-09-18T00:22:08Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Being clever enough to manipulate your teacher, the school’s administration, the police and the mayor’s office in order to gain money, fame and a trip to the White House: Holy crap, the kid is a genius. We either need to elect him to office or keep an eye on him in case he turns into Lex Luthor. Or [Clock King.](http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130505121003/marvel_dc/images/thumb/6/6f/Clock_King_1.jpg/500px-Clock_King_1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/207 "2015-09-18T00:29:45Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > While I support Ahmed, and wish him well, and think that what happened to him really sucked, I also think that the adulation that is being heaped on him is a bit over the top and kind of embarrassing for our side. This would have blown over and forgotten about if the school and cops admitted to making a mistake and trying to do the right thing. The next day the school sent out a letter to every parent making it worse, and bigots are falling over themselves in support of this crap. It isn’t just that this happened, it is the acceptance of this by a large group of Americans that makes this REALLY not ok and I don’t blame anyone for addressing that fact. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/208 "2015-09-18T00:40:55Z")
Bristol Palin Slams Obama For [Inviting Ahmed Mohamed To The White House](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bristol-palin-ahmed-mohamed_55fb2acfe4b00310edf6639a) > [@](#): > > In a post on her Patheos blog Thursday, Palin argued Obama should “STAY out” of the situation with Ahmed. > > “This encourages more racial strife that is already going on with the ‘Black Lives Matter’ crowd and encourages victimhood,” Palin wrote. > > Palin said the police “clearly” made a mistake by taking Ahmed to juvenile detention, and accused Obama of trying to “egg it on.” > > “Childish games like this from our president have divided our country…even more today than when he was elected,” Palin wrote. Because if you point out bigotry, bigots just got to hate more. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/209 "2015-09-18T00:43:50Z")
> [@Lubricious\_Integument](#): > > The English teacher may have reacted stupidly, but is probably subject to zero tolerance “report anything unusual”. The stupid people in this situation are the administrators and the police. Agreed. And I don’t even think the English teacher reacted stupidly. If a cellphone interrupted class instead of a homemade alarm I think it’s reasonable for the teacher to confiscate it until the end of the class or even the end of the day. With an unfamiliar item, it’s reasonable to reach out to the administration on how to handle the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/210 "2015-09-18T01:13:40Z")
> [@Ahmed Mohamed](#): > > …before I didn’t think I was going to get any support because I’m a Muslim boy. So I thought I was going to be another victim of injustice. … I felt like a criminal, I felt like a terrorist. I felt like all the names I was called… > > But thanks to all my supporters on social media, I got this far thanks to you guys. I see it as a way of people sending a message to the rest of world that just because something happens to you because of who you are, no matter what you do, people will always have your back. I mostly agree with Ahmed. Some will have your back. Not all. But some. At any rate I’m glad he left us with a positive message. > **[Teen Arrested For Clock: I Thought No One Would Help A ‘Muslim Boy’ (VIDEO)](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/ahmed-mohamed-chris-hayes-interview)** > > Ahmed Mohamed — the 14-year-old Muslim student who was arrested Monday for bringing a homemade clock to his suburban Dallas high school, but was not charged — thought his story would go untold. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/211 "2015-09-18T02:15:30Z")
If the physics teacher had told him the real deal, and taken the clock for safekeeping until the end of the day, sending him home with a stern warning to never ever have strange electronics in your backpack, and especially not to bring that shit to school, a theater or any public function, we would have never heard about any of this. Sometimes doing the wrong thing makes things better in the end. Or something. I don’t know. In any case, he should have made damn sure the clock alarm didn’t go off during class. But then, if he had done that, once again, we wouldn’t know anything about it. It’s a stranger and beautiful world ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/212 "2015-09-18T02:49:49Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > If the physics teacher had told him the real deal, and taken the clock for safekeeping until the end of the day, sending him home with a stern warning to never ever have strange electronics in your backpack, and especially not to bring that shit to school, a theater or any public function, we would have never heard about any of this. > > Sometimes doing the wrong thing makes things better in the end. Or something. I don’t know. > > In any case, he should have made damn sure the clock alarm didn’t go off during class. But then, if he had done that, once again, we wouldn’t know anything about it. > > It’s a stranger and beautiful world Yep, the kid is at fault for being creative and innocent. The engineering teacher is at fault for not protecting bigots from themselves. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/213 "2015-09-18T02:54:22Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > This was absolutely not planned by Ahmed and there were no “handlers”, but I have to say if that were the case, then I’d say good for him. Good for him for making these people show what they are and using their ignorance and bigotry against them and to benefit himself. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Seriously–if he planned this whole thing out and achieved such a thorough victory over his enemies, I want him to get a full scholarship to West Point. While playing bigoted moronic Texans like a Stradivarius would be impressive for a ninth-grader, it shouldn’t be more than a weekend research project for a cadet… ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/214 "2015-09-18T02:57:28Z")
Someday, after he’s invented a successful fusion generator, or warp drive, or whatever, this will be an amusing anecdote in his Wikipedia entry. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/215 "2015-09-18T04:51:39Z")
He is not going to invent any of those things. The level of technical skill he displayed is minimal. It looks obvious to me he made a gag bomb as a joke (I agree he is not a terrorist)–I don’t think in the age of smartphones he would be so naive as to think anyone would be impressed with something that large in a valise that only told the time. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/216 "2015-09-18T05:00:55Z")
Hey, slacker. You really don’t need to keep posting stupid stuff. Everyone already knows you’re stupid. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/217 "2015-09-18T05:07:53Z")
So’s your face. 😛 (Sick burn though. You done got me _real_ good.) ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/218 "2015-09-18T05:41:27Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > If the physics teacher had told him the real deal, and taken the clock for safekeeping until the end of the day, sending him home with a stern warning to never ever have strange electronics in your backpack, and especially not to bring that shit to school, a theater or any public function, we would have never heard about any of this. Damn. I’ve lived outside of America for too long. That reaction is simply not on my radar at all. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/219 "2015-09-18T05:51:29Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Bristol Palin Slams Obama For [Inviting Ahmed Mohamed To The White House](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bristol-palin-ahmed-mohamed_55fb2acfe4b00310edf6639a)Because if you point out bigotry, bigots just got to hate more. Somehow, in her mind, what Obama does divides the nation, but failing to support a sitting president and openly repudiating every gesture he makes does not divide the country. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2015, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454/220 "2015-09-18T10:11:08Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > He is not going to invent any of those things. The level of technical skill he displayed is minimal. It looks obvious to me he made a gag bomb as a joke (I agree he is not a terrorist)–I don’t think in the age of smartphones he would be so naive as to think anyone would be impressed with something that large in a valise that only told the time. How many digital clocks did you make as a teenager, and how big were they? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-this-is-totally-going-to-kill-bring-your-clock-to-school-day/731454.md?page=12)